Prime ribbing

Wednesday

Feb 18, 2009 at 12:01 AMFeb 19, 2009 at 4:36 AM

Barack Obama has officially reached the four-week mark in his presidency. So far, let's face facts: It has not been easy. The economy is crumbling, Congress is split down party lines and he's had a series of botched cabinet nominations. There is only one thing to do - road trip!

Barack Obama has officially reached the four-week mark in his presidency. So far, let's face facts: It has not been easy. The economy is crumbling, Congress is split down party lines and he's had a series of botched cabinet nominations. There is only one thing to do - road trip!

President Obama took his message to a town hall meeting in Elkhart, Indiana, which is the RV Capital of the World. Wow, the RV Capital of the World. And you thought your town has troubles.

Elkhart's main industry combines the slowdown of auto manufacturing with the plunging value of the housing sector. If you could figure out how to put a bank in the trunk, maybe the whole town will disappear.

Oh, the town hall meeting. You remember those from the Bush years, where it was the chance for the president to bathe in a little admiration from the hand-selected, prescreened worshipful. It is the political equivalent of a rub and tug.

So what happens when President Obama goes to a town hall meeting?

"You have come to our county and asked us to trust you, but those you appointed to your cabinet are not trustworthy and can't handle their own budget and taxes," said one attendee.

Swarm and tackle! There is a grizzly bear in the beehive.

"No, this is a legitimate question," Obama said to the woman.

Stand down. We are going to hear the bear out. Drink it in, rookies - I saw Reagan do this once.

"One of the things I've discovered is that if you are not going to appoint anyone who has ever made a mistake in their life, then you're not going to have anybody taking the job," said Obama.

Which is why I am announcing that my new secretary of health and human services is Dr. Quacky Malpracticestein. At least he's a doctor.

Then, energized from meeting with the people, President Obama headed back to Washington for a nationally televised press conference, where he would face his toughest challenge yet - enraged preempted How I Met Your Mother fans.

Wait - turns out it is the White House press corps. It was time for Barack Obama to work his sales magic.

"The plan is not perfect. No plan is. ... We can't depend on government alone to create jobs or economic growth. ... Tax cuts alone cannot solve all of our economic problems. ... Doing little or nothing at all will result in greater deficits, even greater job loss, even greater loss of income and even greater loss of confidence," said Obama.

You had me at "We're screwed."

After his prepared remarks, it was on to question time, where Obama displayed a brand-new rhetorical technique: the thoughtful answer.

Of course Obama was not the only newcomer at the press conference. There was also Sam Stein from the Huffington Post. What?! That guy is probably just going to link to the New York Times reporter's question.

"Today Sen. Patrick Leahy announced that he wants to set up a truth and reconciliation committee to investigate the misdeeds of the Bush administration. ... Do you agree with such a proposal?" asked Stein.

Well done, young Jedi. Going hard on torture, but why don't you let the big boys show you how it's done?

"What is your reaction to Alex Rodriguez's admission that he used steroids as a member of the Texas Rangers?" asked Michael Fletcher from the Washington Post.

Psst - that is your receiving line after-party question. You mixed up your cards.